Mattioli - Commentarii - 1558

Mattioli Pietro Andrea

Petri Andreae Matthioli, physician of Siena.
Commentaries, second edition, in six books.

Venetijs - 1558 -
Erasmian Workshop
At Vincenzo Valgrisi

(100), 776; 50, (1) p.
In folio - 32 x 23 cm.
Roman, italic.

Second very rare edition of the commentaries (the first in 1554), which present the work of Mattioli.
For the first time translated into Latin.

Thus, by opening the work of the Greek Dioscoride to an international audience, the author adds descriptions of numerous new plants and remedies, expanding the original text with about 600 new plants, almost 200 of which are in Italy alone.
NISSEN (BBI) 1305
DURLING 385
ADAMS D-667
PRITZEL 5985
WELCOME I, 4139

This edition is extremely important for the first publication of the 'Apologia adversus Amathum Lusitanum cum censura in eiusdem'.
enarrationes
A critical response to the Portuguese botanist Amathus Lusitanus, who in the 'Dioscoridis Anazarbei De medica materia libros quinque Enarrationes,' also in 1558, had denounced errors and plagiarism.

Mattioli not only conducted a critical-philological review of Dioscorides' work but also aimed to recognize all the plants described in it in nature.
This is why its interpretation was considered the most important for centuries.

Mattioli's comments on Dioscorides represented an important reference point for the entire Renaissance; they remained an indispensable manual and formed the basis of botany from the mid-16th century to the end of the 17th century.

A true monument in the history of botanical studies, beautifully illustrated by the woodcuts drawn by Giorgio Liberali and engraved by Wolfgang Meyerpeck, which depict
the pinnacle of botanical illustration of the time and became a model to be copied for all subsequent herbariums.

Some of the 567 woodcuts (COMPLETE) present were executed for the first time in this edition.

The dedication to Ferdinando I in this Latin edition earned Mattioli the invitation to Vienna and Prague, to the court of the Archduke and Lord of Tyrol, as his personal physician.
Accompanying the Archduke in campaigns against the Turks in Hungary, Mattioli was primarily interested in minerals, which is why his book does not mention Hungarian plants.
Despite this, in Hungary, Mattioli's work had a great influence as a commentator of Dioscoride.

Excellent period binding in full stiff parchment, with a sturdy four-ribbed spine.
Author with a gold print date, added at a later time.
Small professional restorations at the edges of the plates.
Traces of closure fastening straps.

Very good preservation of the interiors, with clean, very fresh, and crisp papers, including all the numerous illustrations, perfectly inked.
Some minor damages to the title page, with the Valgrisi mark repeated on the second title page, untouched, and on the verso of the last leaf.
Preserved contemporary guards (3 + 2 blank sheets).
Interesting manuscript (1803) on a full page on the verso of the third front blank sheet.
Old handwritten ex libris belonging to the front of the second blank sheet.
Small paper ex libris applied to counter-plates.

Excellent and important copy, complete and original in every part.
COLLATED. COMPLETE